Yaphank is a hamlet in Suffolk County, New York, United States. The population was 5,025 at the time of the 2000 census.  Yaphank is a community in the south part of the Town of Brookhaven.

    Yaphank was the home of  the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (AEC), and it now serves as the home of Brookhaven National Laboratory

  The YAPHANK FIRE DEPT has adopted "THE THING" as their mascot & LOGO   

    The Fantastic Four is a fictional superhero team appearing in comic books published by Marvel Comics.

    The four individuals traditionally associated with the Fantastic Four,  gained superpowers after exposure to cosmic rays during a scientific mission to outer space

   One of the superheroes, The Thing has been transformed into a monstrous, craggy humanoid with orange, rock-like skin and super-strength. The Thing is often filled with anger over his new existence. The character has become the most lovable group member.

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"The Thing" tears through the steel of the truck ripping the AIRBRUSHED gold leaf #15

    Strength & power is depicted in this 3-dimentional AIRBRUSHED composition.  Nothing is going to stop the enraged superhero, with tools in hand to save a victim.

Gary's biggest challenge
was to create illusion of gold leaf using the airbrush & paint.

The beauty of real 24 Karat Gold Leaf is a very brilliant gold colored metal.  With the advent of knurling (engine turn) the gold has a reflective & bright quality that seems to move as the light source changes.

After many hours of study & experimentation the final results really shine